News

7th February 24 - Moorside AGM

The AGM will be held 28th February at 7.45pm. All welcome

2024 agm poster

8th October - Tony Whittle

 

A TRIBUTE TO TONY WHITTLE

It was with great shock and sadness that many of us heard of the unexpected death of Tony Whittle, our Committee colleague and Lettings Officer here on Moorside.  His wife Anne and he were also expert gardeners on Moorside. Tony died in hospital on 14th September where he was progressing from a minor health condition, having recovered from major surgery two years ago. .Tony had a private cremation at a Northumberland natural burials woodland park on 28th September.

Anne and family members are hosting a celebration of his life at the Copthorne Hotel on the Quayside in the afternoon of 14th October. If you are able to join them to remember Tony, it would help if you could email Anne so she can assess numbers at Anne@twphoto.co.uk  For friends and colleagues unable to be there, do pause to remember Tony at 3 pm on that day. And if you would like to send a message with your own memories of Tony, Anne would love to hear from you.

Tony and Anne have had a plot on Moorside for many years where they worked as a team, growing a wealth of top class fruit, flowers and vegetables - roses and asparagus being among his favourites.

Tony was also a keen and experienced bee-keeper and became the allotments spokesman, advising would-be apiarists on the rewarding hobby with all its advantages and responsibilities.

Tony had been a valued and well-respected Moorside Committee Member and for the past 10 years had served expertly as Lettings Officer. Once describing himself as a lifelong socialist, Tony was a good listener, a good judge of character who always tried to be fair and looking for the best in people. In Committee, his thoughtful approach resulted in his contribution on any subject being measured, thoroughly thought out and respected.  In working alongside Tony during my 7-year tenure as Moorside Chairman, I will always be grateful for his deep knowledge of all the rules, regulations and policies surrounding allotments.  In retrospect, this inbuilt ability to absorb and recall at an instant all the ‘technical stuff’ was no doubt due to his having worked for part of his professional life in the Law Centre in Newcastle.

 Helping out as a volunteer in the Moorside shop too, Tony and I had long chats about all sorts of things, usually reverting to World War II/post war aircraft and his favourite, the English Electric Lightning;  or it could be 1960s classic British sports cars, especially the TR3a and TR4!

Born in Bolton before moving to the West Riding of Yorkshire when he was 15. Tony studied Social Sciences in London. Following his degree, he moved up to  Durham to work on a research project, which is where he met Anne who was in teacher training college in Newcastle.  They were together for 53 years.

At Moorside, we experienced another of Tony’s many attributes – photography, He was always behind the camera, not in front of it so to find this  photo of him was a challenge. His photographic hobby developed into a profession and examples of his work show how talented he was.  Some of his favourites hang on his study wall – a selection of images of the old pubs of Newcastle, many now long gone. Another is a black and white enigmatic studyof Spider, a former miner, weathered and with gnarled work-worn hands, enjoying a pint in his flat cap.

Tony had a wealth of interests, as well as his allotment. A keen and accomplished guitarist, in his younger days, Tony had had a band – or a series of bands – playing in local pubs. He had travelled all over, playing at gigs to raise money to support the workers in the NHS.

He had also had a number of motorbikes and with a mate, once rode up beyond the Arctic Circle as far as the Lofoten Islands.  On another trip, they went to Georgia with Tony always capturing the memories on camera. Another of his favourite black and white photos depicts an old white bearded cobbler in Georgia who Tony pictured holding an image of Stalin who was the old man’s hero and whose father had also been a cobbler

Tony - so many stories and memories of such a humble and truly good man. We miss you so much. Rest in Peace, dear friend.

 Susan Pownall

Shop Manager and Committee Member

Moorside Allotments Association.

TonyWhittle

 

4th July - Moorside Plot Judging

Summer is here and the judges will be visiting Moorside on the 12th July to assess our entries for the city competition. Moorside will also be in contention for "best allotment", so to stand us in good stead please take the time to tidy up the fronts of your plots and the paths. Please also keep on top of any trailing plants & trees that overhang onto paths as these can catch out the unwary.

2nd May - Rats & Leptospirosis / Weil's Disease

Unfortunately there have been sightings of rather bold rats on Moorside this spring. We've been asked to remind plotholders to avoid composting cooked food or any food containing meat or dairy products (as these can attract rats). Plotholder should also be careful when handling anything that may have been used by rats (rat nesting material) or food that may have been partially eaten by rats, dur to the risks of Leptospirosis / Weil's Disease. Further information on Leptospirosis / Weil's Disease and general safety controls can be found on the HSE website.

11th April - Skip Ahoy

IMG 20230411 WA0000

12th March Moorside Allotments Committee Changes & Trees

Since the February 2023 AGM and subsequent meeting to agree Officer roles, your Moorside Allotment Association Committee now comprises the following plot holders:

 Karen Brown

Nick Coster

Sarah Farrell

Nicola Francis             (Treasurer)

Frank Lightfoot            (Chair)

Richard Littlewood      (Deputy Chair)

Steven McDonnell       (Health and Safety)

Susan Pownall            (Trading Hut Manager)

Simon Rutherford

Emily Sweetman         (Secretary)

Barbara Taylor

Tony Whittle                (Lettings)

 

Trees: Could all plotholders please be aware of the rules relating to trees on Moorside: "Existing trees are not to be cut down or altered without the permission of the Committee unless they are fruit trees". For further information see the Moorside Tree Strategy as well as the association rules

 

 

17th October - The Community Plot Wants Your Wood

Are you wanting to get rid if some timber, logs or a broken fence but can't face having a bonfire? The Community Plot will happily burn it for you. Simply drop it off on the Community Plot by 3rd November and we'll do the rest

CP Bonfire 2022 web

5th October - Newcastle Allotments Plot Competition Results

Urban Green have announced the winners of the City plot competition (full details of which can be found here).

Contratulations to the following Moorsider plotholders:

  • Jean Hannon (plot 74) for winning Best Full Plot (pictured)
  • Candice Tripp (plot 34) for second place: Best Shed
  • Frank Lightfoot (plot 66): for second place: Most Wildlife Friendly Plot
  • Latiner Allman and Anne Gibson (plot 99) for 3rd place: Best Organic Plot

5th October - Fire Friday On The Community Plot

The Annual Fire Friday will be held on the 4th November on the community plot. If you have timber, logs and such to burn, news coming soon on what do do with them

fire friday 2022 lower res

13th September 2022 - City Show Cancellation

Urban Green have announced today that the city show scheduled for next weekend has been cancelled. Any entrants who have already paid entry fees will be contacted by Urban Green to arrange refunds

Message from Urban Green re City Show

16th August - Moorside Annual Competition

With normal service almost resumed after the lengthy health pandemic of the last two years, we have been working with our landlords, Urban Green Newcastle on a new raft of competition categories celebrating the amazing efforts of our citywide gardeners.  Here at Moorside we have taken the same template to judge our own competition, which always witnesses some close run results.

And here are our 2022 Winners across the board:

 BEST HALF PLOT

Nicholas Lane - Plot 83b

BEST FULL PLOT

Jean Hannon - Plot 74

BEST ORGANIC PLOT

Lat Allman & Anne Gibson - Plot 99

BEST NEWCOMER / FAMILY PLOT

Joyce Ozouaki & Simon Rutherford - Plot 56

MOST WILDLIFE FRIENDLY PLOT

Frank Lightfoot - Plot 66

BEST SHED

Candice Tripp - Plot 34

 Congratulations to you all. The standards were amazing.

 

15th July - Moorside Open Day

We will be holding an open day on Saturday 20th August, this is a great opportunity to have a look round the site, pick up hints and tips on growing, and see more of the site that was featured on this years BBC Springwatch

2022 Open Day

15th July - Moorside Annual Competition

With normal service almost resumed after the lengthy health pandemic of the last two years, we have been working with our landlords, Urban Green Newcastle on a new raft of competition categories celebrating the amazing efforts of our citywide gardeners.  Here at Moorside we have taken the same template to judge our own competition, which always witnesses some close run results.

And here are our 2022 Winners across the board:

 BEST HALF PLOT

Nicholas Lane - Plot 83b

BEST FULL PLOT

Jean Hannon - Plot 74

BEST ORGANIC PLOT

Lat Allman & Anne Gibson - Plot 99

BEST NEWCOMER / FAMILY PLOT

Joyce Ozouaki & Simon Rutherford - Plot 56

MOST WILDLIFE FRIENDLY PLOT

Frank Lightfoot - Plot 66

BEST SHED

Candice Tripp - Plot 34

 Congratulations to you all. The standards were amazing.

And if you name is not here, please rest assured that there were so many highly commended gardens, worked not only by our seasoned experts but also by very enthusiastic newcomers as well. Our small representative Committee team of judges found  hard to make the final decision in many cases, although the improved marking system provided by Urban Green helped to make things a lot less subjective.

And that’s not the end!

Urban Green Newcastle Citywide Allotment Competition

 All the listed winners are being forwarded as a matter of course to compete in Urban Green Newcastle’s citywide competition, in which Moorside has won many top places in the past.  Our site as a whole is also being put forward in the Best Site category, so let’s all work together to make Moorside look especially spectacular this year!  Come on Moorside- we can do it!  We look forward to seeing our name in lights when the results are announced a little later in the summer!

 Susan Pownall

Chairman

12th   July 2022.

27th June - Allotment Competition and City Competition 2022

We have THREE important COMPETITIONS coming up.

Firstly, our own Moorside Competition for the best garden in several categories.

Our committee team will have inspected our plots by the end of this month but please remember that it is not just your plot that needs to be cultivated but perimeter paths should also be weeded, cleared of obstruction (included any overhanging branches of trees which may cause a health and safety hazard).  Of course, you should be doing these things as a matter of course all year round!

Awards will be made to the gardeners of the winning plots in each category, dates and information to be announced later.

Secondly , the winning gardens will be submitted to Urban Green Newcastle no later than Friday 1st JULY for consideration in award giving across the City.  Individual plots from all sites taking part will be judged by Urban Green.  This also includes BEST SITE IN THE CITY but to have any chance of being judged in this category we will have to have clean, weeded and cultivated plots.

These are the Urban Green list of the categories we will be judging and passing to them for city-wide judging (NB:  We don’t have any quarter plots).

 THIRDLY, THE ALLOTMENT SHOW 17th to 18th September

Due to Covid-19 we have not had an Allotment Show for the best produce since 2019, so 2022 will see a welcome return for this City –wide get together.  Gavin Cassidy, Local Food and Allotments Officer with Urban Green Newcastle has sent us the Produce Categories List

A brochure and Applications Form will be produced by Urban Green shortly but knowing that many of you who enter the allotment show like to have plenty of time to prepare I have anticipated publication of the full brochure and Application Form  so you can get started in deciding what you would like to show.

Sue Johnson

26 June 2022

5th June - Gate Planters Are Spruced Up

Thanks to Sue Brophy again, the gate planters have been given a tidy up and some summer planting

20220603 113458

 

20220603 113444

 

30th May - Moorside Planters Get A Refresh

This weekend Sue Brophy has refreshed and replanted the tubs by the trading hut with bright red and white dianthus and trailing lobelia. These will hopefully be flowering very quickly and produce a riot of colour all summer. Thanks Sue! 20220528 115612

 

11th April - Water Back On

Goods news! The water has been turned back on for all your watering needs, and the toilets are also open for business. There is an issue with a tap at the bottom (the road end) of the West Lane close to Plots 75 & 106, so that's been capped off until it can be fixed

8th April - Gardening Aids for Older Plotholders

Moorside has been contacted by a Northumbria University student who is seeking feedback on a prototype device he's developed to help older people continue gardening: Matt Carrell will be at the Trading Hut this Sunday (10th April) at 11am if any Moorsiders would like to user-test his tool and provide feedback

14th March - Rent is Due by 25th March!

rent 2022

 

27th January - Avian 'Flu Found in Newcastle

Avian 'flu has been identified in Newcastle (Byker). Urban Green has sent us the notice shown here. Details and advice have been issued by DEFRA which we have received via Urban Green. Should anyone wish to read the full text please let me know.

Sue Johnson, Secretary, Moorside

20th January - Moorside Allotments Association Annual Competition 2021

During the two-year health pandemic, which we continue to combat, our allotments have proved a lifeline and our saviour, offering fresh air, exerciseand a great sense of well-being. The benefits have also included the chance to make the most of our private space and the results have been phenomenal, making our annual allotment competition extremely difficult to judge with so many excellent gardens to whittle down to just one winner.

And, here they are, the best Moorside gardens over a range of categories in our 2021 competition..

Best full plot with glass

Stan and Audrey Tortoise. Plot 4.

Best plot without glass

Nick and Gina Coster. Plot 103.

Best half plot

Andrew Moat. Plot 80B.

Best newcomer

Candice Tripp. Plot 34.

Best  Organic Plot

Ann Gibson and Lat Allman, Plot 99.

Best Bee-friendly Garden

David Vincent, Plot8/9a.

Two additional Moorside Awards comprise

The Moorside Unsung Hero award, presented to Anne Noble, Plot 37 for her outstanding service in helping to man the Moorside Shop during lockdown.

The Long Service Award,forwarded  to David Le Britton, formerly of Plot 46, who has had to give up his garden after an amazing 30 years. The Committee was delighted to send David a £50 voucher to spend as he wished.

2021 Moorside Competition winners2

 Congratulations to everyone concerned. Keep up the good work.  The 2022 competition is not too far away.  And, plans are being mooted for the annual City Competition to return in 2022, so there is a chance to win citywide recognition too!

 Susan Pownall

Chairman, Moorside Allotments Association.

14th January - Break-ins On Moorside

It appears that there have been some break-ins on Moorside on the night of 12-13th January; primarily focussed on the east lane. POlice have been down and anyone who has been affected should log this by calling 101 and using the police Log number "619/13th January 2022". Could all plotholder please check their plots as son as possible and report any issues, and avoid leaving anything of value on your plots

27th November - Wind Damage & Trading Hut

Following this weekends high winds, could all plotholders please check their fences and plots in general for any damage please? Trading Hut will be closed Sunday 28th.

2nd November - Water Supply Going Off

As winter approaches, the water supply will be turned off to avoid any burst pipes or leaks. If you need any water over the winter, please remember to fill up any water butts or cans ASAP. Depending on the weather, the water will be turned back on sometime in March 2022

19th October - Newcastle Allotments Biomonitoring Study (NABS)

Hello Moorsiders

Some of you took part – pre-COVID – in a study headed by Newcastle and Northumbria Universities titled Determinants of blood and saliva lead concentrations in adult gardeners on urban agricultural sites.

We have heard from their spokesperson, Lindsay Bramwell, who co-ordinated allotment participation, that the results are in! As Lindsay reports:

 It’s been a long time coming but the NABS paper on determinants of blood lead concentrations has at last been accepted for publication. It will have Gold open access in Environmental Geochemistry & Health. I attach the accepted version here, and will send the DOI ( Digital Object Identifier) in due course. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge to shape the study, and your support for making it happen.

The report features here and makes interesting and reassuring reading for everyone concerned about the crops we grow and which we subsequently take great pleasure in eating.

Susan Pownall

Chairman, Moorside Allotments

18th October 2021.

 

13th July - Moorside Allotments Competition

Dear Moorsiders

We have had confirmation from our landlords, Urban Green Newcastle that neither the Annual City Allotments Competition nor the City Show will take place this year.

The competition in particular has been a highlight in our gardening calendar for our Moorside plotholders, as well as being an event that has brought us accolades and an exceptionally high level of prizes year on year without fail.

However, the citywide decision has not deterred your Committee and we are most enthusiastic to resume our own Moorside Allotment Competition which, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, had to be cancelled in 2020.

What’s more, there are some amazing gardens to judge as many of us have had more time during lockdown/furlough to devote to our gardening passion.

SO:  Your Committee competition judges have had an initial site inspection and would like to make a final selection of the prize-worthy plots on 31st July. We will then make a definitive decision at our Committee meeting on 3rd August before announcing the winners.

Everyone has a chance, so get weeding, not forgetting to tidy and weed your perimeter fence boundary; trim back stray branches from communal paths; get those last minute crops in; keep your paths clean and free of weeds; where applicable make sure your greenhouses are clean and producing appropriate crops. Are your flowers pollinator-friendly? Do your wildlife features blend in with the general requirements of the allotment criteria?

As usual, quality, variety and general appearance are all key to your plot being one of the winners.  There is all to play for and everyone has a chance!

In the meantime, we’ll start polishing those trophies!

 Susan Pownall

Chairman.

13th July 2021.

 

15th June - The Free Bench

The Free Bench was set up some time ago so that garden equipment and plants unwanted by plot holders could be offered free of charge to other plot holders. However, it has descended into an area where some people are using it to get rid of rubbish and this is not acceptable. Someone (usually your Chair person) has to gather up all of the rubbish and take it to a Council Tip which, particularly in these times of Covid-19, is not straightforward.

 So, please act responsibly and think of others before donating unwanted items.

 Thank you

SJ  12 June 2021

yes  

Yes For the Free Bench

Unwanted but serviceable garden equipment cleaned and ready to use

For instance:

Clean pots and containers

Plants watered, wrapped or potted, labelled

Tools, washed down and not broken

no

NOT For the Free Bench:

Anything broken or dirty

For instance:

Dirty or broken pots or containers

Plants not watered, wrapped or potted or without labels

Dirty or broken tools of any kind

NO DOMESTIC ITEMS OF ANY KIND INCLUDING PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS OR BIN BAGS

NO TOYS small or large or parts of toys

NO opened pots of paint or garden fertiliser

NO bags of garden rubbish or weeds. Please take them to a Council Tip or an appropriate waste bin at home.

These are just examples of items you must dispose of yourself and not use the Free Bench.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6th April - Water Is Off (Temporarily)

Due to the cold snap, the taps have been temporarily turned off to prevent damage to the pipes. As soon as the weather warms up a little the water will go back on (hopefully within a week)

1st March - Spring is Sprung (Pt 2)

More spring colour is appearing on Moorside, this time by the main gates as some Iris Reticulata have been rescued from the free bench and planted up in the planters along with some other mystery bulbs 20210228 183118

 

22nd February - Spring Is Sprung!

Sue Brophy and Jean Hannon spent a weekend working very hard in clearing & raking all the rubbish and dead leaves away from our front fence line to unearth some lovely spring bulbs which are now in their prime. The snowdrops & crocus are blooming, the daffodils will follow as we progress into spring; and the armer days are just around the corner

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21st December - John Reid

From your Chairman:

JOHN REID

I am sorry to report the death on 10th December of John Reid at the age of 80, who had been one of Moorside’s most colourful characters for many years, gardening every day until ill-health forced him to give up three years ago. He cycled everywhere and his bike, propped up against his fence in the middle lane, was evidence of his presence often from first light!  His large garden has now become a Community Plot.

John’s funeral is taking place at 2.45 pm on 29th December at the West Road Crematorium, although space will be limited due to the current health restrictions.

Committee member, Steven McDonnell, knew John particularly well and pays this tribute to him.

John was a Geordie through and through and was extremely interested in - and knowledgeable about  -Tyneside and its wealth of inventors and entrepreneurs. He had been a Newcastle city guide at one point and also had over 150 poems published in the Evening Chronicle.

John had delivered papers as a boy and gathered broken wooden crates from the old Green Market which he chopped up and sold for fire wood. He had a varied and interesting life and was not a man to stand still. He was regularly on the allotments for 5am and was a much appreciated volunteer with many organisations.  He taught sign language to the deaf, taught Braille to the blind, was a registered carer and hospital volunteer, sat on nine boards at one point and visited the House of Commons and Buckingham Palace. John knew lots of people and was well respected.  He had cared for his wife for twenty years during her protracted illness which had left her disabled.

John had worked as a blade sharpener, a long distance lorry driver, had two cafés, a general dealers, a haulage business and accumulated a vast knowledge of all he was involved in. John raced motorbikes and sidecars on Bamburgh beach competitively; he raced stock cars, flew glider planes, did parachute jumps, was a weight lifter and a keen gardener. He was known far and wide for entering garden shows from Jarrow to Prudhoe and carried all his produce to the various venues by public transport after a road accident seriously damaged his sight. John had a regular spot on a local radio show giving gardening advice. He also had a spell  as an interviewer where he interviewed one of his local heroes, John Grundy.

Sadly, in his later years, John had been in declining health, having developed diabetes, neurological problems and cancer.

A real life Geordie character, all of u who knew him will have our own memories of John and he will be greatly missed. 

Susan Pownall

Chairman, Moorside Allotments

21st December 2020.

20201210 221907

 

 

10th November - Big garden Birdwatch & Urban Green News

Big Garden Birdwatch: Would you like to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch organised by the RSPB?

The Allotments Officer has kindly reminded us that we can do this now. We all know the huge amounts of bird seed bought by Moorside gardeners so we know that many of us take pleasure in feeding and  watching our feathered friends.

If you would be interested to sign up to the Big Garden Birdwatch, go to www.rspb.org.uk and sign up.

Healthy Recipes for Children’s Meals:  Urban Green would like to put together some good, healthy recipes for meals for children to be included in an activity pack to be used during the forthcoming holiday.

 If anyone would like to contribute please email to info@urbangreennewcastle.org.

 Many thanks

 Sue Johnson

10 December 2020

6th November - Be Prepared For Water Switch Off For The Winter On Moorside

It’s November. It’s getting colder and almost time to turn the water off.

Be prepared.

Although it is not going to happen overnight, we are usually watching the weather forecast and getting ready to turn off the water at the mains during November to save burst or possibly broken pipes.  The toilets and our washing facilities would also be turned off at the same time and the facilities locked.

October was one of the wettest – if not the wettest - October since records began, so it is unlikely your water harvesting vessels are empty!  However, if you need to replenish them to ensure you have enough water for your overwintering greenhouse plants, fill them now.  Normally, the water is turned back on 31st March, unless a heatwave occurs beforehand!

30th October - Moorside Gardeners Are Invited to Take Part in a Survey About Food Production

Tabitha Edwards is a stage 3 BA Architecture student at Newcastle University, working with Dr Carlos Calderon on ‘Net Zero Futures’. Tabitha is looking at how physical architecture affects food production and how we can make growing our own produce more sustainable, with particular attention to the North East.

 If you like to help you can find a questionnaire on  https://forms.gle/9jMUJcZarLVsFT51A

  If you have any questions, please contact Tabitha at t.edwards@newcastle.ac.uk

Thank you

 Sue Johnson

29 October 2020

 

18th July - Moorside 2020 Show Cancellation

show 2020

29th June - Moorside Plotholders Invited to Take Part In Study Into Childrens Diets & Grow Your Own Fruit & Veg

Contributions from Moorside Plotherolders are invited into a study relating to the relationship between childrens diets and growing your own fruit & veg:

Tom Wright, Environmental Engineering MSc, Newcastle University would like you to take part in a research study to help us understand the relationship between children's diets and growing your own fruit and vegetables. It would be good if we could help Tom collate this information, especially in these unprecedented times.

 Before you decide whether or not to take part, and what it involves, please click on the link: https://newcastlehealth.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8GRTtfs6IbIleJf  to access the survey and contact Tom Wright, t.wright3@newcastle.ac.uk if you have any questions.

7th April - Break-ins

Sadly it appears that there have been some break-ins on moorside overnight 6/7th April, particularly on the west lane. If you are able to get down to your plot and notice anything missing please contact 101 and they'll be able to take details and give you a crime reference number

23rd March - Water & Toilets

The water supply is now back on, and the toilets are now open. Owing to the ongoing situation with Coronavirus and limited supplied in shops, we recommend bringing your own toilet roll and hand wash as supplies in the toilets are not guaranteed!

29th January - A Moorside Passing – Krys Gaffney.

I am so sad to report the sudden death last weekend of KRYS GAFFNEY, a longstanding Moorside plotholder, Committee member and good friend.

Krys has had a garden on Moorside for over 25 years. She also served as our Committee Secretary for more than 20 years and was an active and valued member of the team. Not only was Krys our Committee Secretary but she maintained our Bee Garden and our planters of flowers, she was a key member of the judging team in our annual Moorside Competition and as can be seen here, Krys  - pictured in the foreground  - with her usual big smile, organised and  ‘manned’ the barbecue every year  at our Annual Show with husband Paul  (at the back of the photograph), serving the most delicious food throughout the event, at the same time raising significant funds for our Association.

KG

For her many friends and colleagues on Moorside who may wish to attend, Krys ‘s humanist funeral is taking place on Monday, 16th March 2020 at 2.45 pm at the Crematorium on the West Road. 

 Susan Pownall

28th February 2020.

13th January - Annual General Meeting

 AGM 2020 v1

The Moorside AGM will be held on Wednesday 19th February at 7.30pm, St James' & St Basil's Church

5th December - Site Security

Please ensure that when entering or exiting our allotments you lock the gates behind you and take out your key.  There have been instances, we know, where the padlocks have been malfunctioning recently but all are in good working order and therefore there is no excuse for leaving the gates unlocked. Coming onsite on Wednesday morning at 9 am, the central gate was unlocked with the padlock hanging on the chain.  Not acceptable, people, sorry!    Not only is this practice a breach of security but it is not fair to other gardeners whose personal possessions onsite are put at risk.

The gates must not be left open for visitors, helpers, trades people,  non-keyholder family members or anyone else, so please make the necessary arrangements to let them in and secure the padlock afterwards.

 Thank you for your co-operation.

 Susan Pownall

Chairman

5th December 2019.

11th November - Toilets, Water & Leaves

The toilets will be closed and the water around the site will be switched off next weekend, 16-17th November, so anyone wanting to gather water for their greenhouse overwintering plants needs to do it before next Saturday.

The St James and St Basil’s Church garden is once more full of leaves and anyone wanting a variety of leaves for leaf mould is welcome to go and collect. Take your own bags and something to gather the leaves into the sacks.

4th October - Help The Hungry In Our City!

Based on the success of our surplus produce stall at both our Moorside Show and then the City Show, our glut of fruit and vegetables can be put to good use: Moorside allotments association is co-ordinating donations of your surplus produce to deliver to the food bank in Benwell. Please don’t waste excess fruit and vegetables as they can be put to good use by the food bank volunteers, either by providing meals or distributing to deserving households.

Please use the boxes on the table outside the Moorside shop and we will do the rest!

Thank you in advance!

Susan Pownall

Shop manager

 

7th August - Annual Allotment Competition 2019

Our annual Moorside Allotments competition judging took place recently when our team of Committee judges selected the winning Moorside gardens across a number of categories to receive our prestigious annual Moorside awards.

The results are listed below, so congratulations to those of you whose hard work, imagination and innovation put you at the top spot in 2019. Your awards will be presented at our Annual Show on 7th September, so put the date in your diary to come along and receive your Moorside Competition prizes.

WINNERS

BEST HALF PLOT:  Andrew Moat. Plot 80B.

BEST FULL PLOT WITH GLASS: Stan and Audrey Tortoise. Plot 3.

BEST FULL PLOT WITHOUT GLASS: Nick and Gina Coster. Plot 103.

BEST ORGANIC PLOT: Ann Gibson and Lat Allman. Plot 99.

BEST NEWCOMER: Jean Hannon. Plot 74.

MOST WILDLIFE FRIENDLY PLOT: Joint winners  Sue Brophy (Plot 54) and Frank Lightfoot (Plots 66, 65b and 73a).

BEST GROUP/COMMUNITY PROJECT: The Comfrey Project. Plots 76/106/107a.

MOST BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN: David Vincent. Plots 8/9a. (Not a City Competition category).

In addition, our winners’ gardens were put forward for inclusion in the City Allotment Awards which were judged by external judges early last month, the results of which are on our notice boards and on the website.  Here again, some of you were also successful in being amongst the top gardeners across the City with awards to match, so congratulations once more.   You will be presented with your City award at the City Allotments Show on 15th September, so we hope you will be able to attend.

 Susan Pownall, Chairman

On behalf of the Moorside Allotments Committee

6th August 2019.

4th August - City Allotments Competition

The results form the 2019 City Allotments Competition are in and the results can be viewed here (PDF)

My Thoughts:

 Once again it was an honour and a privilege to judge this year’s Allotment Competition. The weather was warm, dry and sunny, which was great for myself and Rachel. The quality of the crops and the abundance of produce was once again fantastic. The sites we visited were clean, tidy and cultivated to a high standard, as they always are. It was great to chat with individual plotholders, to get their take on the importance of having an allotment, be it, physical health, mental and spiritual benefits, the social side, through to healthy eating (grow your own). Thank you all, for taken time out to show us around your allotment sites.

 Rachel Flannery:

 Where has the year gone. Judging the allotments this year has been great.  Revisiting the sites and seeing all the changes that have taken place over the year have been amazing. The standard of competition was yet again high and there was little margin between everyone.

 It was great to see the enthusiasm of those who took the time to show us round and how proud they are of their sites. The level of community spirit and support for one another on each site was a joy to see.

 As always, my particular interest is the wildlife section and I found that allotment holders not necessary entered for wildlife friendly plot are all doing ‘their bit’ to help wildlife including the amount of bird baths, bird feeders, companion planting, plants which provide nectar source and consideration for night time pollinators.  Insect houses, green roofs, hedgehog hibernacula, habitat piles, bird boxes, bat boxes and basking areas.  It was great to see some allotment holders have now installed more wildlife cameras and information boards for other allotment holders to see what is on their site.

 All round thanks to the allotment holders, secretaries  and committees – who put in many hours to keep the sites ticking over.

 Please remind all winners and runners up to be at this year’s Allotment & Garden Fete, Leazes Park, Sunday 15th September, 2pm, in the main marquee, next to the bandstand to collect their trophies , certificates and prize money.

 To all of you out there wondering whether it is worth entering the Allotment Show at Leazes Park this year, I would say, go for it, let’s keep this events running for the future and for the future generations.

 Please I look forward to seeing you all at this year’s Allotment & Garden Fete.

19th June - Future Management Of Moorside Allotments

On  4th June 2019, your Committee attended a meeting at the Mansion House convened by the Parks and Allotments Trust, the City Council and  the Freemen, along with the  Committee representatives of the five Wartime Allotment Sites which have been managed to date by the City Council and – since 1st April 2019 – by the newly formed Newcastle Parks and Allotments Trust.  For information, the Trust is also now responsible for the management of all the remaining allotments throughout the city which have no links with the Freemen.

The purpose of the meeting was to hear the decision by the Freemen as to whether the Wartime Sites,  including Moorside, would continue to be part of and managed by the Parks and Allotments Trust or whether, as a result of current Agreements and Leases expiring from 1st April 2020, the Freemen would not renew those agreements and that the Wartime Sites would join the few Intake Allotment Sites which are already – and have always been - managed directly by the Freemen.

We were informed by the Chairman of the Freemen at the meeting that as from 1st April 2020, Moorside Allotments along with Little Moor, Highbury South, Triangle and Coxlodge would come under the direct control of the Freemen.

Following the meeting, your Committee is working with the Parks and Allotments Trust and the other Wartime and Intake sites to pool information as well as learning about the implications of the new arrangement. There may of course be some changes but we did receive positive reassurances on maintaining existing standards, for which there is a proven track record, as well establishing a successful future working relationship.

Your Committee will ensure you are kept up to date with progress via our website and our notice boards but in the meantime, it is business as usual.

Susan Pownall

Chairman, on behalf of the Moorside Committee

14th June 2019.

11th June - Judging For Both Moorside 2019 Winners And The City’s Annual Allotment Competitions Draws Near!

Calling all Moorside Plotholders!

We’ve just been notified that the City’s Parks and Allotment Trust will be sending round their judges on the lookout for Best Allotment Site in the City as well as other ‘Bests’ in which historically Moorside Allotments Association has done so well. The City judging will take place during the early part of week commencing 2nd July 2019.

There are two stages on your way to a ‘Best in City’ award. Our own Moorside Allotment Competition is judged during the last week in June and winners are not only awarded our annual Moorside Allotment prizes but will go forward as recommended  ‘winning plots’  in the City competition.  The competition from other sites is getting fiercer as allotments are upping their game but for several years Moorside has always come within the top four sites of the 65 across the City in the Best Large Allotment Site category and the greatest triumph was when we scooped the top spot altogether.  Let’s aim for that again in 2019!

Here’s your chance to prove your garden too, is the Best!  It could be an organic plot, or best plot with glass or best newcomer, best wildlife-friendly plot amongst many other possible award-winning categories. Last year’s winners are still featured on our website and on our notice boards, so see where your plot fits in.

But before that, there is work to be done!

In addition to tackling those weeds and showing your well-tended garden, make sure your perimeter boundary is also cared for. Our plot cultivation standards include keeping your fence lines trimmed and weed free, too. Hedges should be trimmed and there should be no straggling brambles etc invading the pathways. Gather up and clear your rubbish – we have a skip coming imminently – and most of all, show what an enthusiastic and imaginative gardener you are with a variety of crops and flowers you are cultivating.

Let’s all make that extra effort to make Moorside Allotments look even more special than usual this year!

 Susan Pownall, Chairman, on behalf of the Moorside Allotments Committee.

10th June 2019.

6th May - Trading hut, Plant Scheme & The Plot Inspectors Cometh

Trading Hut/Shop

Due to the high demand for compost and fertilises, we were lucky that our Scottish wholesaler did not recognise our Easter Monday as a holiday and he was able to get another immediate delivery to us the following day i.e. 23rd April.  Already, this stock too is diminishing but we took advantage of the delivery to buy in some extra large Levingtons tomato grow bags, which you have started asking for. They are a few pence more expensive than last year but still offer good quality and value at £4.50 per grow bag.

Compost is available for all uses from organic peat free to multi-purpose to fine grain compost containing silver sand, ideal for seeds.  We also have ericaceous compost suitable for all lime-hating plants including azaleas, hydrangeas, heathers, blueberries and bilberries.

There is still time to plant your seed potatoes and we have stock of most varieties on our sales sheet, still at £2 for a 2 Kilo net, across earlies to main crop.  We can split down to 1kg for customers if required.

See our sales sheet on the website for current prices.

Moorside Plant Scheme

The Plant Scheme team have a wealth of brassicas, broad beans and early peas all ready for purchase and planting either on your plot or in your garden at home . There is a lot more to come but with the cold weather as it is, the frost tender plants are being taken care of in a warm environment at the moment and purchases would need to be protected with fleece until the cold spell has passed.  Nevertheless, the selection is as wide as always with some unusual varieties across vegetables and flowers, so come and browse the selection.

For further updates on what is ready, WATCH THIS SPACE!

Plant Scheme Opening Hours: 10am to 12 noon  on Saturdays and Sundays, coinciding with the Moorside Shop opening times.

Monthly site inspections

2nd April saw our first 2019 site inspection immediately prior to our regular Committee meeting. The inspection team were pleased to see how much progress had been made on the majority of gardens, particularly those of our newcomers.  Well done! 

Our next inspection will take place on 7th May when it is hoped even more seasonal progress will be on view.  May is a crucial month in our gardening calendar, so don’t get behind – after that it is difficult to catch up. Although our early May Bank Holiday weather is not very encouraging, even a couple of hours on a good day or evening can make all the difference and the lighter nights have seen many of you coming down after work to get some fresh air and make a difference to your plots. Keep up the good work.

(Posted 6th May 19)

28th April - Greening Wingrove News

Greening Wingrove are recruiting - for more information head over to the local events page

(Posted 28th April 19)